Thailand

Year of establishment of diplomatic relations: 1965

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Thailand

Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn visited Singapore from 24-25 July 2012. Princess Sirindhorn was hosted to lunch by President and Mrs Tony Tan. During her visit, Princess Sirindhorn was the Guest-of-Honour at the 6th International Convention on Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology (i-CREATe), received a Distinguished Honorary Fellow Award from the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, and was hosted to a visit at Gardens by the Bay by Minister for National Development Khaw Boon Wan.

Thai Defence Minister Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Sukumpol Suwanatat made his introductory visit to Singapore from May 31-June 3 2012. ACM Suwanatat called on Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs Teo Chee Hean, and Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen. During his visit, he also attended the 11th Shangri-la Dialogue.

Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Kittiratt Na-Ranong visited Singapore in January 2012 to deliver the keynote address at a roadshow for the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen made his introductory visit to Thailand from 4-5 January 2012. He called on Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Thai Deputy Prime Minister General Yuthasak Sasiprapha, and Minister of Defence Air Chief Marshall Sukumpol Suwanatat, and was hosted at the Ministry of Defence Headquarters by Thai Acting Minister of Defence General Sathian Permtongin.

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra made an official visit to Singapore on 8 December 2011. She called on President Tony Tan and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who hosted an official dinner. An orchid was also named in her honour.

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam made an introductory visit to Thailand from 28-29 November 2011. Minister Shanmugam called on Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Kittiratt Na-Ranong, and Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul. He also met with Privy Councillors General Surayud Chulanont and Air Chief Marshal Siddhi Savetsila.

Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn led a group of officer cadets from the Chulachomkhlao Royal Military to visit the Singapore Embassy in Bangkok on 24 November 2011. This was the first such visit to the Embassy by a member of the Thai Royal family.

President of the Thai Senate General Teeradej Meepien made a visit to Singapore from 22-24 November 2011. He called on Speaker of Parliament Michael Palmer during his visit.

Singapore rendered humanitarian assistance to Thailand in the wake of the 2011 floods. This included rubber boats, bottled water, rice, and other relief supplies. An SCDF officer was part of a five-man ASEAN-Emergency Rapid Assessment Team (ERAT) dispatched on 15 October 2011 to assist the Thai Government. In addition, the Singapore Public Utilities Board contributed equipment to help Bangkok's Metropolitan Waterworks Authority monitor its water treatment process. The Singapore Red Cross also presented a contribution of S$100,000 to the Thai Red Cross on 12 October 2011.

The 10th Coordinating Meeting of the Thailand-Singapore Civil Service Exchange Programme (CSEP) was held in Bangkok from 19-20 January 2011. Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo jointly officiated at the Opening Ceremony with Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs Kasit Piromya. During his visit, Minister George Yeo also called on Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Thailand

Singapore and Thailand share close historical ties dating back to the 13th century when Singapore and Siam were important nodes for international trade. His Majesty King Chulalongkorn made his first overseas visit as King to Singapore in 1871, and His Majesty had wisely said: "As Thailand and Singapore are neighbours, it would be advantageous if our countries are friends with each other." Royal visits to Singapore continued under the reigns of His Majesty King Vajiravudh and His Majesty King Prajadhipok. His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Her Majesty Queen Sirikit continued this strong friendship and visited Singapore in 1950, 1951 and 1962.

Over the years, Singapore and Thailand have built strong ties based on shared interests. Singapore and Thailand enjoy a warm and multi-faceted bilateral relationship. The close bilateral ties are reflected in exchanges at the highest political level, good cooperation among a wide range of agencies, and a high volume of people-to-people exchanges. Both countries cooperate closely bilaterally, as well as within ASEAN and in international fora. Economic links between Singapore and Thailand are strong. Singapore was the 2nd-largest foreign investor in Thailand in 2011. Defence ties are also robust, and form another key pillar of the bilateral relationship.

The Singapore-Thailand Enhanced Partnership (STEP), which was launched in 1997, provides the framework for the long-term strategic partnership between both countries. STEP comprises four pillars: enhanced economic co-operation, strong defence relations, people-to-people co-operation and the Civil Service Exchange Programme (CSEP). Under the CSEP, which comprises 13 cooperation clusters, both countries organise regular study visits and training programmes.

There is extensive technical cooperation between Singapore and Thailand, including under the Singapore Cooperation Programme. In addition, under the Singapore-Thailand Third Country Training Programme (TCTP), both countries have jointly provided technical assistance to various countries, including Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Timor Leste. The TCTP is Singapore's first formalised partnership with a fellow ASEAN country.

Thailand